Chess Puzzle #eKvs3 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2778 · Master · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rooks c3/f1; bishop e2; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook f8; bishop d7; knights d4/g5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ndxf3 — knight d4→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf3 — rook c3→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight g5→f3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxf3 — bishop e2→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp1b2pp/8/3pp1n1/3n1q2/2R2PN1/PP2BK1P/3Q1R2 b - - 1 22

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.